Focusing device



Nov. 9 1926. I 1,606,183

G. H..ROLFES FOCUSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay m A TTOR/YE vs Nov. 9 1926.

G. H. ROLFES FOCUSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18. 1924 LGOGJS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QI'W QA A TTORNEYS Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,183

(5. H. ROLFES FOCUSING DEVICE 7 Filed Feb. 18, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 //YVE/YTOR I 650F615 fl. F01. F55

BY g1 A 770E775 vs Patented Nov; 9, 192 6. H i v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enones n. nouns, or ST. LOUIS, mssoum, ASSIGNOB TO ALEXANDER n. HANDLON,

. or sr. LouIs, mrssounr.

FOCUSI'NG DEVICE.

Lpplicationflled February 18, 1924, Serial 693,491;

This invention relatesgenerally-to focuswhen it was placed in a standard lantern ing devices, and particularly to a focusing which was in use. While the re-basedelecdevice which may be associated with an tric lamps werevast improvements over the electric lantern whereby the light-producordinary lamps, still they were objectionable ing element within said electric lantern may for the reason that the re-basing operation be properly focused with respect to the lens rendered said lamps quite expensive.

or lenses of said lantern. ,While my im- "The purpose of the present invention is proved focusing device-may be used in any to" produce. a focusing device by means of electric lantern regardless of the useito which the ordinary run of electric lamps- 10 which said lantern is applied, still said focusproduced .by the manufacturers may be puring device is intended particularly for use chased by the railroad companies. Each I in electric lanterns Of the various types of "these electric lamps is then associated.

which are fused forsignalingv purposes on with one or my'improved focusing devices railroads. llltiis very well known .that the and is focused in a standard testing lantern.

15 safety'of thelives of the passengersriding ,After the lam .has been properly focused I0 .on railroad trains and the preservation of it is removed om the testing lantern and the property of the railroad company re- 15 laid away with the focusing device atquire the use of signal lanterns which will tached thereto. When it is necessary to reoperate ith th h h t ibl flieiency place a lam vwhich is burnt out in service 21 at all times, hence the' great need for :a this focuse lamp. is substituted for the device such as the one disclosed herein. burnt-out lamp, and because the testing lan- Prior to this inventionmuch annoyance tern 1n which it was focused and the lan- Y d inconvenience e i ned by the in tern into which it is placed for service are ability. of the railroad companies to obtain bo h standardin every respect, said lamp 5 electric bulbs which were-accurately made, will be properly focused in the last m nso inother words, electrielampsthe filaments tionedlamp. An important feature of my v of ;.which were properly positioned in each' invention is that a great number of lamps of said bulbs. For an electric lantern to maybe focused at the convenience of the function in an entirpily eflicient manner it persons having charge of that work, so that 30 is necessary that the ament of the electric there is always asupplyof'fo'cused lamps 8h lamp within said lantern be in a certain n h hd- W n W rd 1 rec ived h t he position relative :to the lens or lenses of the lamp In a certain signal .is out it. is. only lantern. To obtain electric lamps which necessary that the signal maintenance man were a close to perfect a it was possible take the focused lamp to the particular '38 .to secure, the railroads were required to signal and substitute said focused lamp for buy only those electric lamps. which were the burnt-Out lamp. It is apparent from selected after a very careful inspection, and th s th t the necessity for focusing the neweven then the lamps obtained were not allamp at the top of a pole, for instance, ways what. was'desired, for it is only'necesor perhaps under adverse weather condisary that the filaments of an electric lamp tions', is eliminated. be out of position aver slight degree to With the foregoing and other objects in render it impossibleto ocus that lamp in View, the invention comprises the novel con- :1 lantern designed for use with perfectly struction, combination and arrangement of formed electric lamps. parts hereinafter more specifically described 45 To remedly the inconvenience sug ested and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawabove, the manufacturers ofelectricamps ings, wherein is shown the preferred emresorted to the practice of re-basing the bodi'ment of the invention. However, it'is electric lamps intended for railroad s1 aljto be'understood that the inventioncompreing use. By this system eachelectricj amp hends changes, variations and modifications 50 was provided with a false base which was which come within the scope of the claims placed on the lamp. The lamp was focused hereunto appended. I 4 at the factory,- and after said lamp was prqp- Fig. I is a View partly in side elevation erlyifccused the false base was permanently and partly in vertical section of a signal secured in place onsaid lamp,--thus insur-' lantern showing my improved focusing de- I5 ing the. proper focalization of said lamp vice associated therewith. 11o

Fig. II is a cross section on the-line 11-11 of Fig. I.

v Fig. III is a crosssection on the hue III--III of Fig.1. e

Fig. IV is a side elevation showing m improved focusing device associated wit in'g 'dGVlC-G is arrang an electric lamp, said -.view. showing the" parts mentioned as they will a pear when ready to be introduced -1nto' the antern.

Fi V is a view of'm improved focus evice associated with a signal lantern provided-with a reflector. g In the drawings, A designates a slgnal lantern of a type which is in general use on railroads at the resent time, said lantern comprisin Qvho y portion B, a removable portion to permit access to the m terior of said lantern, and a lens D.

Located within-the lantern A is my 1mroved focusin .device' F. .In the lanterni 1' I my improved foc'usin ed in a vertical positlon, an. udes a supporting element 1' illustrated in said device inc which comprises a plurality oflegs 3 and an u per portion 4;, said legs and upper portion eing secured to ether and const1tut1n a complete unit. 'T e upper. portion 4 the supportin element of my focusing device'is in the orm. of an internally threadedcollar and is provided with an annular shoulder 5. The supporting element 1 is secured to the bottom wall 0 t he lantern A by means of a plurality of screws which are y comparative y long screws which so arranged as to permit said supporting element to be adjucted to different positions relative to said bottom wall of said lantern. The adjusting" screjws mentioned are clearlyshown in Fi I, in which'view 6; designates ass throughthe lower horizontal portions 0 the legs 3 and extend into internally threaded, o enings in the bottom wall of the lantern.

ere is one of the screws 6 in each. of the legs 3, and located adjacent to each of said screws 6 is. a screw 7. The screws? are com aratively short, said screws being exten ed through the lower. horizontal portions of the legs 3 and the lower ends of to the horizontal portions' of the legs said screwsbeing in contact with the upper face of the bottom wall of the lantern. To

adjust the supporting element 1 it'is only necessary to rotate the screws 6 to cause said screws to be moved upwardly and then to manipulate the screws to cause saidscrews to move downwardly or upwardlyrelative 3 whereby said legs will bepermitted to move 'towardor caused to move away from the bottom. wall of the lantern. As an illusing-the-sorews 7 the distance between the porting element has been said supporting element. so manipulat- -lower faces. of the le s 3 and the lowermost ends :of the screws 7 will be reduced, and the supporting element would therefore be rmitted to move downwardly toward the ttom wall of the lantern. After the sup supporting element in a fixed position as the screws 6 will prevent 's'aidsupporting element from moving upwardly and the screws 7 will prevent 'sa'i supporting element from movifigidownwardly. It is'apparent from the foregoing that it is possible to move thesupporting element to var ous =pos1t1ons, as

it me be raised or lowered as described, or may e tilted by raising and lowering certain legs only.

. i 8. designates an annular fiber block which is supported'by' thesupporting element 1. The. fiber block 8 extendsin'to the collar 4 of the supporting element and rests upon the annular shoulder 5 therein. block is provided with-a central opening 9, and extending into said opening is a sleevelike member 10 provided with an annular flange 11 which overlaps the upper face of said fiber block 8. The fiber block 8 is pro-' vided 'with' an annular flange 13 which extends outwardly .from the body portion of said fiber block at the lower end thereof.

14 designates an externally threaded ring which is. adapted to be screwed into the internally threaded collar 4 of the su porting device. The annular wall of the tl i ed ring 14 is adapted to be interposed'between. theinside face of the collar 4 and the outside face of the fiber block 8, and the lower edge of said ring is adapted to bear firmly-against the up er face of the annular flange 13 of said her block. By this arrangement it is ap arent that the block 8 is very firmly held in lace within the collar 4 of the supporting evice and it is plain that there is no danger of said block rotating relative to said collar 4 when cer- 'tain other parts of the device which will be hereinafter set forth are rotated. The

into the sleeve-like-member 10 associated read- The fiber member. '10 is provided with a corner '10 with which the semicircular portion 17 con-' tacts and it will be noted by referring; to Fig. I that this co ner is curved, By this: arrangement it is plain that the semicircula portion 7 may he rocked relative to the member 10, said semic rcular portion and said member 10 functioning very much like a ball and socket joint. Secured to the semicircular portion. 17 of the movable ele cured .bymeans of solder or in anyother' convenient manner to the semicircular portion, 17, and said plate is provided with a plurality of cars 19;- Extended through each'ear 1 9 is an adjusting screw 20. There are preferably three ears 19 and three adjust- 31 ing screws 20, each of said screws passing through the associated ear and extending into internal] threaded openings in the fiber block 8 Fig. I). It is plain from the fore oing that by mani ulating the screws 20, the plate 18 and semicircular portion 17 may be adjusted relative to the fiber block 8, for it is apparent that if one of the screws 20 were screwed inwardly and the associated screws 20 were moved outwardly the axis of the movable element. would be shifted accordingly. J

21' designates an externall screw threaded sleeve which is arrange longitudinally 'of the axis of the movable element 16. The

externally Tthreaded sleeve 21 is provided with a slot 22 which extends longitudinally of said sleeve, as shown in Figs. I and III.

v Secured to the plate,18 by means of solder or in any other suitable'manner is a collar 23,'said. collar being L-shaped in cross section as shownin Fig. I, and being provided with a projection 24 which extends into said elongated slot 22. Arranged on the externally threaded sleeve 21 is an internally threaded sleeve 25, the threads of said sleeve 25 cooperating with the threads of said sleeve 21 asshown in Fig. I. The sleeve 25 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 26 at its lower end. 'Mounted on the sleeve 25 is an outer sleeve 27 said sleeve 27 being secured'to the sleeve 25 in any convenient manner ,so that said sleeve 25 and said sleeve 27 will rotate as a unit.

It will be observed by referring to Fig. I that thelower end of the outer sleeve 27 is spaced apart from the upper face of the anand 29. indicates a locking screw which sothat an end thereof will bear against the outer sleeve 27, by which arrangement said sleeve maybe prevented from being acci dentally rotated. Located within the exterv nally threaded sleeve 21 is an electric lamp socket 30 of a common type, said socket be- ;ing fixed to said externally threaded sleeve and being adapted to move therewith. Arment 16 1s a plate 18. .The plate 18 is se-- end of said socket isa connecting device 32 by means of which electric conductors 33 are connected to said sockets in a manner to supply electric current to the electric lamp The operation of my device is as follows: Assume that the lantern shown in Fig. I

is a testing lantern in which electric lamps are focused for service in regular signal lanterns. Assume also that within the lantern illustrated in Fig. 'I only the supporting element 1.is resent; in other words, that the threaded. ring 14 and all other parts held in place thereby are missing. The'fiber block 8, movable portion 16, sleeves 21, 25 and 27 socket 30, and various small parts associated with the parts mentioned, are held together and constitute a'single unit as shown in Fig.

IV, which for the sakeof convenience will" be termed thev focusing unit. If it be as-' sumed now that it is desired to focus an electric lamp the person doing the work would introduce said electric lamp into the proper end of the socket 30 of the focusing unit, at which time said focusing unit would appear as shown in Fig. IV.- The focusing unit is then locatedin place on the supporting element 1 in the testing lantern with the annular flange 13 of the fiber block 8 resting upon the shoulder 5 of' said supporting element. .The threaded'ring 14 is then caused to surroundthe'upper portion of the focusing unit and is brought downwardly to a position where the threads thereon engage the threads within the collar 4. The threaded ring 14 is then rotated so as to cause the flange 13 on the fiber block 8 to be gripped between the'lower edge of said ring 14 and the shoulder 5. It is apparent from the foregoing-that the entire focusing unit is very securely attached to the supporting element 1. After the focusing unit is se-.

cured in place as described. the connecting device 32,is secured to-the lower end of the socket 30 by means of the screw 34 and the focusing of the lamp may he proceeded with.

It may be that the vfilament of the electric lamp which is being focused is quite a substantial distance out of position, and to bring said filament to a position when 1t is reasonably close to its proper position the screws '6aand are manipulated. The manipulation of the screws G and adjusts the position of the suppo .only utilized to obtain the rting element 1, and said screws are reliminary adustmentof the lamp, the ner adjustment eing obtained in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out. After the preliminary adjustment of the lamp by meansof thescrews 6 and 7, the screws 20 are manipulated, and as the fdltferent screws 20 aremoved upwardly or downwardly the'movable portion 16 will be moved relative to the fiber 'block 8 and the filament of the lamp will consequently be shifted relative to the lens of the" lantern. It ma be that the filament of the lampis in a higlieror lower plane than the center of the lens, and when this is so the outer sleeve 27 is" rotated to shift said lamp in a vertical I direction. 'The'outer sleeve '27 is secured to the internally: threaded sleeve and. the

threads. of sand in'ternall threaded sleeve ooo erate' with the threa s of the externally t readed sleeve 21. It will be rememberedthat the projection 24 extendsinto the elonv. is then removed -from the testing lantern,

gated 'slot 22 in the sleeve 21, consequently said sleeve is not permitted to rotate. It is therefore plain that when the outer sleeve 27 and the internally threaded sleeve 25 are ro-- tated, the externally threaded sleeve. 21 will .be caused to move upwardly or; downwardly according to thedirection of rotation of said outer sleeve and said internally threaded sleeve, and because the socket 30 is secured to. said externally threaded sleeve 21 it is apparent that the electric lamp 31' will also be moved vertically. It is plain, therefore,

.that the device disclosed in the present apand said lamp and focusing unitis ready for use in a lantern in service. If it will be assumed now-that word was received that the lamp in a certain signal lantern was out, in this event the 'person having charge of that work would take one of the focusing units with a focused lamp associated therewith to the signal lantern in question. The threaded ring 14 associated with the focusing unit within said signal lantern would be removed and said focusing unit within said lantern would be'taken therefrom. The new focusing unit would-then be arranged 1 in place and the threaded ring 14 would be screwed downwardly against the flange 13 of the fiber block 8. After this had been done the connecting device 32 wouldbe attached to the lower end of the socket 30, at which time the lantern would again be in working condition with a properly focusedlamp therein due to the fact that the menu lanternin which thelamp was focused an the lantern into which said lamp was placed for service are standard in every respect and because the adjustment of the supporting elements in the testing lantern and in the service lanterns is the same.

Fig. V illustrates my focusing device associated with a lantern having a reflecto'rR. 'Ihe reflector in Fig. V. is arranged in place in-the lantern in the usual manner and said reflector/ is provided with an internally threaded socket 4'. The fiber block. 8 is provided with a flange 13' which bears against 80 the rearmost faceof said reflector R.. 14' designates a threaded ring which screws into the internally threaded socket 4' and bears against the flange 13 on the-fiber block. 8, whereby said flange 13 is gripped between the inner end ofsaid threaded ring and the rearmost face of said reflector. All of the partsiof the device shown in Fig. V other than those mentioned are the same as the correspondin parts of the device illustrated W in Fig. I, and because the operations ofboth devices are identical except that the device shown in Fig. V has no preliminary adjusting devices such as the screws 6 and 7, said devices shown in Fig. V willnot be described further.

I claim:

1. A device for focusing a light source in an electric lantern, comprising a stationary element, a movable element,- a light-producing element supported by said movable element, said movable element being provided with a semicircular portion and said stationary element including a socket into which said semicircular portion of said movable .105

element extends. and adjusting means whereby said semicircular portion of said movable element may be rocked relative to the stationary member into which it extends to properly position said light-producing element relative to the lens of said electric lantern, said stationary element and said movable elementbeing provided with means to be capable of being secured together whereby said elements, togetherwith said lightproducing element, may be removed from the Y lantern as a unit without disturbing the adjustment of said light-producing element.

2. A device for focusing a light source in an electric lantern, comprising a stationary element, a movable element, a light-producing element supported by said movableiele ment. said movable element being. movable to adiust thepdsition of said light-produc-- ing element in directions which are angular relative to the axis of said stationary cle ment. and means whereby-said light-producing element may be adjusted axially of said stationary element, the last mentioned means comprising a threaded sleeve, threaded means cooperating with said threaded sleeve whereby said threaded sleeve may be moved longitudinally, and. means whereby said threaded means may be locked in fixed positions, said stationary element and said movable element being provided with means to be capable of being secured together whereby said elements, together with said lightproducing element, maybe removed from the lantern as a unit without disturbing the adjustment of said light-producing element.

ducing element in directions which are angular to the axis of said stationary element and means whereby said light-producing element may be adjusted axially of said stationary element, the last mentioned meanscomprising' a threaded sleeve, threaded means cooperating with said threaded sleeve and arranged to rotate relative thereto, and means for preventing the rotation of said threaded sleeve. said stationary element and said movable element being provided with means to be capable of being secured to-- gether whereby said elements, together with said light-producing element, may be removed from the lantern as a unit without disturbing the adjustment of said light-producing element.

4. A device for focusing a light source in an electric lantern, comprising a stationary. element, a movable element, a lightreducing element supported by said mova le element, said movable element being capable of adjustment so as to move said light-producing element in directions which are angular to the axis of said stationary element, and means whereby said light-producing element may be adjusted axially of said stationary element, the last mentioned means comprising a threaded sleeve, threaded means cooperating with said threaded sleeve and arranged to rotate relative thereto, said threaded sleeve being provided with an elongated opening, and means extending into said elongated opening in said threaded sleeve whereby the rotation of said threaded sleeve is prevented,'said stationary element and said movable element being provided with means to be capable of being secured together whereby said elements, together with said light-producing element, may be removed from the lantern as a unit without disturbing the adjustment of said light-producing element.

5. A device for focusing a light source in an electric lantern, comprising a supporting. element, a stationary element supported by said supporting element, a movable element, a light-producingelement supported by said movable element, said movable ole ment being capable of adjustment so as to movesaid light-producing element in directions which are angular tothe axis of said supporting element, means whereby said light-producing element may be adjustedaxially of said supporting element, said means comprising a threaded sleeve, threaded means cooperating with said threaded sleeve and arranged to rotate relative thereto, said threaded sleeve being provided'with an elongated opening and means extending into saidelongated opening whereby the rotation of said threaded sleeve is prevented, said stationary element and said movable element being provided with means to be capable ofbeing secured together whereby said elements, together with said light-pro- 7 ducing element, may beoremoved from the lantern as a unit without disturbing the adjustment of said light-producing element, and means comprising threaded adjusting devices cooperating with the bottom wall of said electric lantern whereby said'supporting element'may be adjusted.

6. A device for focusing a light source in an electric lantern, comprising a supporting element, a movable element, a light-producing element supported by said movable element, said movable element being provided 9 with a semicircular portion and said stationary element including a socket into which said semicircular portion. of said movable element extends, a justing screws associated with said movable element whereby said 10 semicircular portion of said movable element may be rocked within said socket member so as to move said light-producing element in directions which are angular to the axis of said supporting element, means 105 whereby said light-producing element may be moved axially of said supporting element, the last mentioned means comprising athreaded sleeve, threaded means cooperating with said threaded sleeve and arranged to 110 rotate relative thereto, said threaded sleeve being provided with an elon ated o ening, means extending into said eibngate opening whereby the rotation of said threaded sleeve is prevented, and means comprising 115 threaded adjusting devices cooperating with the bottom wall of said electric lantern whereby said supporting element may be adjusted.

In testimony I hereunto afiix my signature. GEORGE H. ROLFES.

that claim the foregoing I20 

